Disclaimer: don't have any rights to the Weiss boys.

Breaking Free

Chapter 1

The five people in the room remained silent as they listened to the recorded background information on the latest mission.

"…..young girls and boys are being sold into slavery to the highest bidder. The auctions draw criminals from around the world and are held once a year due to the high profile of the buyers and the need to avoid suspicions that frequent multiple disappearances would raise. It has been confirmed that this man is the ringleader of the organization. Your mission is to remove this blight from civilization."

The TV changed over to static as the tape abruptly ended. Manx removed the tape and turned to the four young men in the room.

"Well?"

"Of course we'll do it."

"Normally I don't appreciate Aya answering for me, but yeah, this one's a no-brainer." Yohji exhaled a stream of white smoke and ignored the low growl he heard behind him. He didn't care if it was for his remark, or the fact that he was smoking in the house and honestly, he didn't care.

"I'm in."

"Me too."

"Alright then, here's the information you'll need. Happy hunting gentlemen, Yohji."

"You wouldn't want me any other way." Yohji winked at the redhead with the impossibly long legs as she walked by, a smile on her face. Once again he heard a disapproving noise from behind him.

"Jealous?"

"Hmph."

Yohji turned around to look at their leader who was in his normal position, leaning against the wall, arms crossed over his chest, head lowered slightly.

"I'd wink at you, but I like having all my limbs attached to my body."

"Yohji, stop teasing Aya."

The lanky assassin turned to their youngest member.

"Who's teasing? You all know Aya is beyond repressed and hates any sort of joking or playfulness aimed at him. That's just Aya. That's why he's the fearless leader." Yohji turns to face the dangerous eyes he new had to be boring holes into his skull, but the assassin was missing. "Aya?"

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Aya took the steps two at a time and kept his swift pace until he was outside and about two blocks from the Koneko. Why does he have to say things like that? He doesn't understand. I have to be the calm one. The mature one. I have them to protect. And Aya. If I'm not serious, if I'm always joking around like him, then someone will get hurt.

Aya kept walking the streets, not paying attention to where he was going. When he finally stopped and looked around, he found himself by a playground in the park. He watched the families having picnics and the children playing. He used to have that life. A happy life with a father, mother and sister. He remembered laughing and playing and having friends.

Now he only had a sister who was comatose and three fellow assassins. He didn't laugh or play anymore. Life wasn't fun anymore. He supposed Ken, Omi and Yohji could be considered his friends, but there was so much they didn't know about him and he didn't think he would ever feel comfortable telling them. They have enough burdens to carry. We all do. No sense putting mine on top of theirs.

He let out a heavy sigh as he sat down on a nearby bench and watched the normal, happy lives of others unfold. Maybe one day I'll be able to wash the blood from my hands and live a normal life. Aya hung his head as he thought about the possibility of ever escaping the current life he led. Gods, right now, I'd settle for feeling alive.

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By the time Aya returned home, dinner was ready and everyone was sitting down to eat.

"Aya, perfect timing! I set a place for you."

Aya offered Omi a half-hearted smile and sat down, avoiding eye contact. Dinner was served and Aya ate silently, half listening to Omi and Ken chat away with Yohji interjecting every now and again. Suddenly he heard his name and he looked up to see three expectant faces aimed at him.

"What?"

"What do you think of our plan?"

"What plan?"

Ken sighed, Omi furrowed his brow and Yohji just rolled his eyes. Aya clenched the hand that was in his lap, refusing to let his embarrassment or his anger at Yohji show.

"We talked about it while you were out and we thought that we would stake out the club this guy owns and see if he takes the bait."

"Who's the bait?"

"All of us. Well, not Omi, he's too young, but between the three of us we should be able to attract this guy's attention. So what do you think?"

Aya sat there, thinking over the plan. It made sense to use all three of them as bait. They didn't know what attributes the target was looking for other than young and attractive. And he could easily picture Yohji and Ken snagging some kidnapper's attention, but himself? It wasn't likely. He didn't even have anything appropriate to wear to the club. Maybe he'd just leave it to Yohji and Ken and work with Omi on surveillance.

"I told you he wouldn't go for it."

"Yohji…"

"Aya would never lower himself to being put on display. Besides, the orange sweater look isn't exactly going to garner the appropriate attention. Horrified stares maybe, but not---"

"It's fine. The plan sounds good. We'll have to make sure each of us is armed with a weapon. I won't be able to use my katana and Ken won't be able to use his bugnuks so we'll have to come up with alternatives."

Ken and Omi smiled while Yohji stared slack jawed.

"Problem Kudoh?"

"N-no."

"Good."

Aya stood up and left without finishing his dinner. The three remaining assassins finished dinner and went about their business, preparing for their mission that was scheduled for tomorrow night.

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Yohji sat on his windowsill, enjoying a cigarette before bed. His mind had been occupied with thoughts of Aya ever since dinner. He was shocked that Aya would agree to put himself out there as bait. Especially since it would require him to literally put himself out there, hopefully bare midriff and all. Yohji shook his head. Where did that come from?

He took another long drag on his cigarette. He would be lying if he said he thought Aya was unattractive. On the contrary, the man was beautiful. The dark crimson hair, the pale skin, those piercing amethyst eyes…. Yohji shivered at the image in his head. When the redhead first joined their group he'd tried everything he could think of to get the man to lighten up, obviously to no avail.

What's with him? I'd say it was just that he hates me, but he's not much better with Ken or the chibi. How can a guy who acts like such an emotionless prick be so devoted to his comatose sister? Yohji shook his head and stubbed the cigarette out in the ashtray, then slipped into bed. As he started to drift off to sleep, images of Aya came unbidden into his mind. He hated it when this happened. Whenever he started dwelling on why Aya was so closed off, his dreams would be haunted by the beautiful man and he would have a restless night's sleep.

To be continued….